Address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, at the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia
Prishtina, 3 March, 2011
Honorable members of the Assembly
Honorable ministers,
Honorable ladies and gentlemen,
We are on the eve of an important and necessary process for the European future of Kosovo.
For the first time after the war and after the declaration of the independence of Kosovo we will start normalization of interstate relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia.
Following decades of conflict and destructions, the time has come for disagreements and differences on certain issues to be discussed on equal footing and be solved together.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo will be strongly engaged in the technical dialogue ahead of us – and committed to advance the living conditions of the people and to contribute to stability in the region.
Finding solutions to the inherited problems is an urgent and unavoidable issue.
From the painful issue of the missing up to administrative obstacles and confiscated documents – the technical dialogue with the Republic of Serbia will have one single objective: to normalize and develop our interstate relations.
Honorable MPs
Ladies and gentlemen,
Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state. Its freedom and status are undiscussable and non-negotiable.
However, economic development and European integration are necessary for the welfare of all of us.
In this respect, the technical dialogue with the Republic of Serbia represents a key stage in our journey towards the European Union and Euro-Atlantic integrations.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo, based on the Constitution of the country and the legitimacy vested in it by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, has the responsibility to lead this process.
However, I call on the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to support this process and to closely follow its course.
In addition, the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo will be regularly informed and updated on the course of the process which is naturally expected to be long; however, I have a firm belief that this process will be concluded with reciprocal recognition between two sovereign states and integration into the EU and NATO.
The process of dialogue ahead of us goes beyond party and ideological scope. The challenge it contains is bigger than the program and party differences as the relevance of this process is of national dimension.
Therefore, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, I expect you to express your strong support and commitment in order to successfully conclude this process of major importance for the future of our new state.
Today, like many times in the past, we are not left alone in our efforts to create a safe future for all the Kosovars.
Our international partners (EU and US) will be an important part in this process: their presence and support will be a guarantee for its success and for its European perspective.
They share our strong belief that the power of a new state like Kosovo lies in ensuring a secure environment for its citizens – and in a sustainable economic and political development.
This can only be achieved through good neighborly relations, freedom of movement for all and bilateral understanding – by all.
I expect you to engage in a constructive, well argumented and reasonable debate in the service of our national interest and our European future.
Thank you!
Last modified: July 31, 2022